Chinese Traditional Folk Art –Paper Cutting
Chinese paper-cut, as one of the folk arts in China, has a long history.During the Northern and Southern Dynasty (386 - 581 A.D.), cutting out intricate patterns out of paper has become a tradition.This was the beginning of the art of Chinese Paper Cutting called Jian Zhi.The Song Dynasty greatly improved the paper making process and introduced different colors of paper. The paper cut craftsmen of the time put the colored paper to good use in their paper cut outs. In the Ming and Qing Dynasty, paper cutting art reached its peak to the point that it became a required skill for women before they can get married.
Today, China has many paper-cut artists specializing in paper cut outs. The knowledge usually was passed on by generations of paper artists in their family or home town.
In the ancient time, the paper-cut was used for decoration, and people usually paste patterns on the window, door lintel or desks for the festival atmosphere during the Spring Festival. It also was the decoration of the gifts.
This kind of folk art is all made by hand, and in China some people make a living by it. Though it only use a few kind of tools: knives, papers and gravers, they can make variety complicated patterns. For example, flowers, birds, animals, legendary people, figures in classic novels, to types of facial make-up in Peking opera.
In the past time, women who were living in the countryside usually gathered in their free time to make all kinds of paper cutting. But now, with the development of the society, fewer and fewer people like to learn the Chinese traditional folk art while there are some who still regard it as a profession.
Therefore, we will find many factories for paper cutting in China, and it is a little difficult for you to find some true hand-made paper cutting. Of cause, it is sure that there still has the true hand-made cutting. If you got one, it is very worth treasuring in your store.
Do you want to know more on the Chinese paper cutting, to the exhibitions and find some professional books you will find a lot in it.
There are also some other Chinese folk crafts, they are both practical and ornamental, fully reflecting the grace and depth of Chinese culture.
